Photo by Laurie Asseo.
From Staff Reports
PENN NATIONAL: FEATURE WIN KICKS OFF GARCIA THREE-BAGGER
No More Strippers got just the right setup in Wednesday’s featured allowance race for Pennsylvania-breds at Penn National: a fast and contested pace that sapped the energy of the leaders and brought the closers into play.
And the five-year-old Weigelia gelding took advantage, cruising up outside and running down the competition while on the wrong lead to post a one-length victory. Running time for the six furlongs was a modest 1:12.55, and No More Strippers rewarded his backers with an $18 payout on a $2 win wager.
No More Strippers has now won six of 36 career starts with earnings of $145,568. He is trained by David Nunn for Frederick Solleder and Dana Grimaldi.
His win also jump-started the day for jockey Wilmer Garcia, who won the evening’s last three races. Following the win by No More Strippers, Garcia piloted Atmosphere to win a claiming race at 11-1 and closed out the evening by guiding favored Xtra Special to a win in the nightcap. The all-Garcia pick three paid $275.70 for a 50-cent wager.
CHARLES TOWN: VOLUME DISCOUNT TAKES WILD MAIDEN RACE
Moon Star Magic, one of five debut runners in six-horse maiden special weight field Wednesday at Charles Town and at 26-1 the longest shot on the board, broke outwardly but fast, led the field into the turn, and bore out badly leaving the three-sixteenths. That compromised favored Color Me Sexy and provided an inviting inside opening for Volume Discount.
Volume Discount, another firster, shot through the gap and had enough to hold off Color Me Sexy. Meanwhile, Moon Star Magic — now running on the outer rail — rallied to be second, beaten just a neck for the win.
Volume Discount was ridden by Ramon Maldonado and is trained by Raimondo Schiano-Dicola for Scuderia Montese Stable. Running time for 4 1/2 furlongs was 53.68 seconds.
